Mt. St. Helens ASH--4 Vials of Timed Ash Collection--Diary Notes--05-18/19-1980

Description

I'm pleased to offer this
unique
set of Mt. St. Helens ash samples collected on May 18 & 19, 1980 after the enormous Mt. St. Helens, Washington eruption. These are from the collection of Erich Laskowski (1949-2020) of Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Laskowski was living in Pullman, Washington at the time. I purchased the bulk of Erich's collection recently in Tucson and a box containing bagged and timed samples of Mt. St. Helens ash was in the collection.
I took ash from each of the plastic bags (placed within brown paper bags that are labeled) and placed them in these plastic bottles. Each bottle represents a timed collection of ash that corresponds to the notes in Erich's diary. The bottles measure about 4 inches tall and weigh about 2.5 ounces each or slightly less. I will mark each bottle with the time of collection--I haven't decided how to do this yet but thought that I would print out a thin label and glue or tape it to the side of each bottle.
Update! I just added time appropriate labels to each bottle and added a photo showing the result--I think it is an improvement! This was affixed using a glue stick and I will make it even more permanent by placing a slender strip of transparent tape over the label so that it does not come off over time.
The ash was collected on the day of the eruption and the following morning on the 19th. The notes in his diary indicate that the ash stopped falling around 2AM on the 19th but he didn't make a collection until 8AM. I laughed when I read his notes that the ash was collected off the hood and roof of his 1971 Chevy pickup! He further noted that the vehicle surface was clean as it had rained the two days previous. I love that kind of detail.
The Mt. St. Helens eruption was anticipated due to increased seismic activity in the area. In March, 1980 steam vents appeared and by late April the shape of the mountain noticeably changed due to bulging. After the eruption, the mountain had lost about 1300 feet of its height and left a crater nearly 2 miles wide and several hundred feet deep. The ash plumes rose to nearly 16 miles and moved easterly. The amount of damage was incredible; 57 lives were lost; thousands of animals and millions of fish were lost; nearly 200 miles of highway was destroyed and nearly 200 homes lost or extensively damaged.
Back to the ash--the bottles contain ash collected at 5:30PM that represents ash that fell the previous 2.5 hours; ash collected at 7:30PM that respresents ash that fell the previous 2 hours; ash collected at 10:15PM that represents ash that fell the previous 2.75 hours; and ash collected at 8AM on May 19 that represents ash that fell between 10:15PM and 2AM. No ash fell after 2AM according to his diary. Each bottle will be labeled with time and date of collection. Additionally, I will print a copy of the photo taken of his diary notes for that day that details his efforts to collect and document this ash fall.
This is a rather unique set of geologic "memorabilia" from this historic event. There was some benefit as a result of the eruption--the ash greatly helped crop yields as the ash is fabulous at holding water; and the unique gem material
helenite
was created and affords fragile but beautiful and usually green gemstone material made from the ash. This is a unique set--I currently have only two sets of four bottles available but can make more.
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All specimens are carefully wrapped, come with complete and accurate labels and are quickly shipped. As always, your complete satisfaction is unconditionally guaranteed
and I even offer FREE return shipping on any item that fails to satisfy for any reason---you can't go wrong. I'm reminded of the firm pledge printed on the old Foote Mineral Company mineral catalogs from more than a century ago,
"Quality of specimens is assured as we permit return of specimens at our expense."
Thanks for looking!
I buy collections! Please contact me if you have a collection for sale or know of one that is available. I will pay a finder's fee to anyone that can point me to an eventual purchase!